A dog belonging to the IDF´s canine unit, Oketz, bit a Palestinian
protester who tried to assault troops in the West Bank village of
Qaddum on Friday. The protester suffered an injury to his hand, but
was treated on the scene and arrested.

During the protest, demonstrators threw rocks at Border Guard
officers. One was taken in of question.

Protesters who witnessed the incident told Ynet that the troops set
the German Shepherd on the crowd, letting him randomly attack the man
that was consequently injured, Ahmad Shatwi. His arrest was therefore
unjustified, they claimed.

The activists said that it took the IDF trainers 10 minutes to pry
the man´s hand from the canine´s teeth. They added that the troops
pepper-sprayed and arrested Shatwi´s uncle, who attempted to calm his
frightened nephew while the dog trainers tried to free him.

Rally dedicated to Rachel Corrie

The IDF said that Shatwi, who was treated by army medics on the
scene, did not need to be hospitalized.

"During an illegal and violent riot that took place in Qaddum,
Palestinian youths threw stones and rolled burning tires towards IDF
troops," the IDF Spokesperson´s Unit said. "IDF forces arrested two
rioters, one of whom tried to assault the troops. He was bitten by
the unit´s dog, was treated and arrested."

Qaddum residents, who have been holding rallies every week for the
past 10 months, claim that residents of the nearby Kedumim settlement
are stealing their lands. They have also been protesting against the
restrictions placed on their freedom of movement.

Left-wing activist Yonatan Pollack said that Friday´s rally was
dedicated to the memory of the American activist Rachel Corrie, who
was killed nine years ago by an IDF bulldozer while trying to prevent
the demolition of a Palestinian home in Rafah.